Facebook tests 'buy' button; Twitter buys CardSpring

18 July 2014 | 8457 views | 0

Facebook has begun testing a 'buy' button which lets users purchase products advertised on the social network. Meanwhile, Twitter is also stepping up its commerce game, acquiring payments outfit CardSpring.

Facebook users on desktop or mobile can now click a 'buy' call-to-action button on ads and page posts to purchase a product directly from a business, without leaving the social network.

Users can pay with a card that Facebook already has on file or enter new details and save them for future use or have them forgotten. No payment details are shared with advertisers.

So far, the system is only being tested with a few small and medium-sized businesses in the US.

Separately, Twitter is also looking to strengthen its commerce credentials, buying CardSpring for an undisclosed fee. CardSpring provides an API designed to make it easy for developers to link digital applications to payment cards.

It is expected that CardSpring's technology will help merchants offer discounts in tweets, with customers entering their card details so that when they make a purchase at a later date, the saving is automatically applied.

Says Twitter's head of commerce, Nathan Hubbard, in a blog post: "As we work on the future of commerce on Twitter, we're confident the CardSpring team and the technology they've built are a great fit with our philosophy regarding the best ways to bring in-the-moment commerce experiences to our users."

Only yesterday it emerged that a third social media giant, Snapchat, has filed trademarks which suggests that it too is preparing a move into the payments arena.